Individual health insurance premiums for next year have already been published in most states, and increases are happening almost everywhere. I'll show you what the numbers look like in your state and how to respond.
Hi, I'm Sam Jaber, a licensed health insurance broker. Each fall, insurance carriers submit their rates for the coming year, regulators review those filings, and policyholders start receiving renewal notices showing higher premiums. This time around, the increases are particularly significant across most states where I work.
I help clients over the phone throughout the 36 states where I'm licensed. As state regulators release updated pricing information, I add it here so you can check the numbers for your state and understand your next steps.
Information last reviewed October 15, 2026. The percentages below reflect average premium changes for individual and family coverage before subsidies are applied. Approved indicates regulators have accepted the rates, while Proposed indicates an insurer's request is still awaiting a decision. When you see "reported," the number comes from a filing-based rate tracking source rather than directly from the state's own publication.
How much these higher rates affect your household depends largely on whether your income qualifies for marketplace premium assistance. Let's look at the situation that best describes you.
If you're eligible for a premium tax credit, you may not feel much of the increase insurers are announcing. That's because your assistance is calculated using the cost of a local benchmark plan, and the credit generally grows as that benchmark becomes more expensive. Your actual premium is influenced more by household income than by the insurer's advertised percentage increase.
But that doesn't mean you should automatically renew. Insurance companies don't all raise prices equally, and a plan that was a great value this year could cost more than competing coverage next year. Renewing without checking may leave you paying extra for essentially the same benefits. In most states, December 15 is the deadline to select coverage beginning January 1.
Next step: Get in touch before December 15. We'll revise your projected household income and compare next year's plans to see whether another choice offers better value for your premium.
If you don't qualify for premium assistance, the full increase is yours to pay. Before agreeing to that higher renewal premium, I'd compare it against a private PPO. Private plans are available outside the marketplace and use medical underwriting, meaning the insurer reviews health information and may offer healthier applicants pricing based on their medical situation. Their nationwide provider networks also let you access doctors beyond your home county. You can read more about how a private PPO works.
Next step: Give me a call and I'll compare your household's private PPO premium with the amount shown on your renewal notice, so you can judge the difference yourself.
Not everyone will receive a renewal notice with a higher premium. Some policyholders will instead learn that their current plan is being discontinued. If that happens, you'll need to select replacement coverage during open enrollment to avoid starting the new year uninsured. I maintain a state-by-state look at carrier withdrawals on my page about insurance companies leaving the marketplace.
When your existing plan disappears, it's a good opportunity to compare the remaining marketplace choices with private coverage too, especially when you're responsible for the full premium.
Next step: Let me know the name of the plan that's being discontinued. I'll go through the available replacements with you and provide pricing for the ones that suit your needs.
You don't have to accept a higher marketplace premium without comparing alternatives. In each state where I hold a license, I can quote private PPO insurance with nationwide provider access. For healthy applicants who don't receive subsidies, that's frequently where I'd begin the comparison.
Straight answers, no sales pitch.
According to insurers, higher hospital expenses and prescription drug costs are contributing to these increases. They also cite a smaller insurance pool with greater medical needs following the expiration of the expanded federal subsidies.
Not necessarily. Published averages combine people of different ages and plans. Your specific increase depends on your insurance policy, age, where you live and, if you receive a subsidy, household income. The renewal notice will tell you your actual change.
A proposed increase is the amount an insurance carrier requested from regulators. An approved increase reflects the state's final decision and determines what you'll actually pay. Regulators can approve less than requested or sometimes authorize a higher amount.
Yes. You can switch plans during open enrollment without having to provide a special reason. Once that period closes, changing coverage generally requires a qualifying life event, so don't wait past the deadline to address a premium increase.
Share your state, how many people need insurance and an approximate household income. I'll review what happens to your current plan next year and compare the alternatives that make sense for you.
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